Vitamins & Minerals For Babies & Children

Babies and children have high nutritional requirements and large numbers of school age children have been shown to be deficient in many essential vitamins and minerals. A poor diet resulting from faddy or fussy eating can cause a number of health problems and lead to behavioral problems, impaired learning and an inefficient immune system.

As parents we have an enormous responsibility to ensure that our children get a good, healthy diet. This task is not easy when we are faced with fussy eaters.

Children need far lower doses of nutrients than do adults, and a healthy and varied organic diet should offer the large proportion of their nutritional requirements.

What you can do to help

Try to breast feed your baby. The breast milk is designed to provide a complete food for the baby for several months following birth. You need to ensure that you are well nourished and then the baby will have the nutrients that are needed. (see ... nutritional requirements during breast feeding) and (also see ... what to feed your baby when weaning them) also eating food tips for babies)
The fats and calcium and other important nutrients contained in human milk are more readily absorbed and utilized by the infant than if it is given cow's milk. Antigens that are present in cow's milk can also cause allergic reactions in infants. Human milk promotes growth largely due to the presence of certain hormones and other growth factors. Breast fed babies have a lower risk of developing meningitis and other infections.
If you have a fussy or faddy eater, be patient and try not to offer fast or convenience foods (which are high in artificial ingredients) as a substitute. Children can become used to the enhanced flavors of commercially prepared foods and may find it difficult to be satisfied with blander home cooking. (Also see ... Tips to Tempt Fussy Eaters.)
Children need at least five servings of fresh fruit and vegetables a day. If the fruit and vegetables are unpopular try grating them and adding them to other dishes. Fresh carrot juice is sweet and delicious and most children love it and it's high in beta-carotene. Beetroot and cucumber juices are also nutritious and can be drunk by themselves or added to other juices.
There is no need to cut out the fats in a child's diets, but try to stick to healthy fats, such as olive oil and use butter instead of margarine.
Offer your children lots of water to drink between meals and avoid sweet drinks. Drink fruit juices only with meals to reduce the long term damage to their teeth.
Studies have shown that many faddy eaters are deficient in zinc - so try to increase the zinc rich foods in the child's diet.

Vitamin and mineral supplements for babies and children

Babies who have been breast fed will not need extra vitamins or minerals (at least for the first six months). Bottle fed babies may benefit from vitamin and mineral drops.

All children can benefit from a good multivitamin and mineral supplement, no matter how good their diets. This is especially the case if they are fussy eaters. Any trace deficiencies can be rectified and studies have shown that children who have optimum levels of nutrients perform the best academically and athletically.

After six months the baby may benefit from the addition of vitamin and mineral supplements.

It is best to get advice from your health professional before you give supplements to your babies and children.

References

Bland, J. 1996, Contemporary Nutrition. J & B Associates.

Davies, S. and A. Stewart., 1997, Nutritional Medicine. Pan.

Elliot, N. 2004, Green Peace. Practical Parenting.

Holden, S., Hudson, K., Tilman, J. & D. Wolf, 2003, The Ultimate Guide to Health from Nature. Asrolog Publication.

Pressman, A. and S. Buff, 2000, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vitamins and Minerals. (2nd Ed.) Alpha Books.

Soothill, R. 1996, The Choice Guide to Vitamins and Minerals. A Choice Book Publication.

Sullivan, K. 2002, Vitamins and Minerals: A Practical Approach to a Health Diet and Safe Supplementation. Harper Collins.